Receptacle for paper sheets



NOV. 18, 1947. Q A MacCORDY 2,431,131

RECEPTACLE FOR PAPER SHEETS Filed May l0, 1944 FIG.2 N

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE Foa PAPER SHEETS Charles A. MacCordy, Fulton, NQY. Appiication May 1o, 1944, Serial No. 534,971

. 8 Claims. l

The invention relates to improvements in paper sheet dispensers and, more particularly, to improvements in dispensers designed for direct manual withdrawal of sheets one at a time from a pack or supply of loose sheets housed within the dispenser.

The general purpose of the invention is to pro- Vide an improved papersheet dispenser which is so constructed that it can readily be loaded with a pack or supply of loose or disconnected paper sheets such, for example, as blank sheets or as printed money order blanks, time slip blanks, etc. without creasing or interfolding of the sheets, that it will prevent scattering and soiling and waste of the supply of sheets, and that sheets may readily be directly withdrawn by hand one at a time from the dispenser.

A more specic purpose of the invention is to provide a sheet dispenser which will maintain a pack of loose sheets therein in a bowed condition and which has an end wall slotted for insertion therethrough of a human nger to withdraw the bowed sheets bowed endiirst one at a time out through said slot, the inner face of said slotted end wall being shaped to contract the leading end of the bowed sheet engaged by the finger until said end of the sheet is bow-ed sufciently to pass through the slot.

A further detail feature of the invention comprises provision of a pack positioner within the dispenser in line with one end of the slot in the slotted end wall of the dispenser to prevent a pack of sheets from rotating in the dispenser into a position in which the pack extends entirely across the slot at both ends of the slot.

Further detail features included within the scope of the invention consist in provision whereby the supply of sheets may be inserted in the dispenser. either through the finger slot or through the opposite end of the dispenser, and in provision for fixedly securing the dispenser to a table, shelf, bracket or other support.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following description of two illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the drawine.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of one form of sheet dispenser embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view (with parts broken away) of the dispenser disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, showing the last sheet of a pack being withdrawn from the dispenser.

' the cylindrical wall I I.

Figure 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 5 showing a modied form of the dise penser; and

Figure `5 is a sectional View of the modied form of dispenser taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The dispenser shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes a pack housing or casing constructed to provide a pack receiving chamber shaped to hold a pack of loose paper sheets in arcuately bowed condition. This casing, in the construction shown, has a cylindrical wall II and two opposed end walls I2 and I3. The end wall I2 is provided with a diametrically extending slot I4 the end edges of which are coincident with the inner surface of It will be obvious that the outer surface of wall II need not necessarily be cylindrical.

`The inner face of end wall I2 lies in two planes of equal and vopposite inclination to form two sloping planar cam surfaces I5 which extend from the respective longitudinal edges of slot I4 to the inner face of the cylindrical wall II. The outer faceV of wall I2, in the construction shown, is a planar face and is normal to the axial line of the cylindrical wall II but it may have a rounded or other contour.

The other end wall I3 preferably has planar inner and outer faces normal to the axial line of the cylindrical wall, and, preferably, is provided with a small central countersunk hole I6 through which may be passed the shank of a screw, nail or other fastener to attach the dispenser to a suitable support, such as a wall, table, shelf or the like.V Preferably, as shown, the walls II and I2 are formed integrally, and the wall I3 formed as a separate flat disk seated in a counterbore I'I formed in the adjacent end of the cylindrical wall II.

Within the casing there is provided a packlocating bar or nn I8 which extends, in the direction of length of said `bar or iin and in the direction `oi" the length of the axial line of wall II, along and against the inner face of the wall II opposite one end of slot I4. This bar or n I 8, in the construction shown, is rigidly aiiixed at one end thereof to end wall I3, as by cementing or welding it to said wall, but it may be formed integrally with said wall if desired.

The separable parts or sections of the dispenser shown are held in assembled relation by a fastening device I9 which is engaged with wall Il and the bar or iinv I8. As shown, this fastening device is a screw passed radially through wall I I and having threaded engagement in the barV or n I8,

but it may be a nail, a drive screw, or other fastener not conveniently removable. If desired, the fastener may be a quickly removable cotter or the like.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, access to the interior of the dispenser can quickly and conveniently be had solely through slot I4, and a pack of sheets to be dispensed is therefore placed in the dispenser through this slot. To ioad this dispenser, the pack of loose sheets is sharply exed or bowed to assume a U-form in end elevation, and is then passed inward through the slot and released so that the pack finally expands into a. generally arcuate form in end elevation, such expansion being limited by the cylindridal Wal-l I I, The pack is so inserted that the in yor locator bar I8 is interposed between the separated edges of the bowed pack. The locator bar or fin I8 is so located Opposite one end of slot I4 to prevent the pack from extending fully across slot I 4 at opposite sides .of the axial line of the .cylindrical wall. The bar I8 should extend far enough yfrom wall II toward the. axial line of wall l I t block rotation of any and all sheets .of ya pack of the thickness conveniently insertible in the dispenser to en .extent Which would permit the pack.. or .any sheet thereof, to ,extend .fully aeross `slot l .et Yopposits sides of the axial une of .Well Il. .For this. purpose, .the ber or .fin 1.8 may extend. .for ex..- ernnle. to said exiel line or .even esross said axie'l line. .Howevery .a ber extending .to .the extent Shown toward said axial line will block such exe cessiye .end .improper rotation of .env peek., .or .of any vsheet. or sheets thereof, suon .as would ordi.- narly be leaded inthe dispenser- The looator par or .I8 may be .of trnnented. wedge form in cross section as shown and, where itis desired or neoessnry to Yload .the dispenser ,through the slot 1.41. Ythe .loer is pref erehly tapered shown at .ith-.leb to rounded tree end edge I8@ .from e point `inte.rinediete theiree end of the bar .and .the Well It..

Figure ,1. there ihdieated generelly et. 2.0 epoch lof .loose Sheets Which has. heen. .inserted through slot I4 .and released. it heine understood. of course, that the thickness of the sheets is sreetly exaggerated in the drawing over .that of sheets which would usually he employed, .and it will .also be understood that the entire peek or any A,sheet .or sheets thereof .may assume e difierent position .about `the .axial .line of the Cylindrical Well es fer .es suoh ohenee of Position over that shown is permitted .hy the loeator her or fin 1.8

The longitudinal side. `edees or edge Wells of slot ,le .ere preferably streieht and parallel. asshown- The slot .should hefwlde enoueh to permit the in- .dex .linger of any normal Person to be freely in.- serted through the slot. In the construction shown, which -is drawn to scale from a -sample dispenser for small sheets, this slot is one inch wide and this width will easily accommodate any normal index Efinger and permit a substantial number of 'bowed sheets to be inserted into the dispenser at .one time through the slotw'ithout creasing the sheets. Obviously, the slot may be inside Winer then one inohy end it nfay be mede somewhat narrower than one inch, ,but must be wide enough for convenient insertion of ,a linger through theslpt. A' Y 'I y To withdraw asheet from a pack housed in the dispenser, a person l'inserts a ngeriusually and naturally an in dex i'inger) through theslot, presses the ,finger .to the innermost .sheet of the neolrendwithdrews .the ringer through .the slot while maintaining pressure on thesheet. As the finger is withdrawn, the nger-contacted sheet is pulled toward the wall I2 and the leading end of the sheet engages both of the cam surfaces I5 which then progressively increase the bowing of the sheet at said end until said end is bowed suciently, without creasing the sheet, to pass through slot I4. After the leading bowed, but uncreased, end of the sheet being withdrawn from the dispenser has passed through the slot, it naturally tends .to atten out, and the person withdrawing the sheet may grip the exposed portion .of the sheet between the index finger and thumb for .QOmDlCQIl .0f the withdrawal of the sheet from the dispenser. In Figure 3 a sheet 20a is shownpartially withdrawn from the dispenser. In order to permit the convenient withdrawal of the last sheet of the pack, the end of the slot opposite the n I8 must coincide with the inner wall of the cylindrical wall I I.

In loading .the dispenser through the slot 1.4, the entire peek of.V loose sheets to .be loaded, or anynesiretl portion thereof. .ls .flexed into. .a sharp U- .push dxthroueh the slot. .and then released, whereupon the .ohareedofr loaded `sheets. will expand intopa curvilinear bowed form gen,- erelly oonoentrie with theoylindrioel Well Il. lIn islt' peek ispassed through the sloty so .that .the speeed edges. of the ,pack Willpess inward ,et opposite sides. of .the locator per.. .n will ,te obvious .that

e reen may te inserted the dispenser .in instellments..

lhe vdispensei'. mex he made .of .any .suitable substantially .rigid materiel. .stones wood. rnet-a1. molded plastic' nreterinl, ete.. While the slotte@l end wall I2 has been shown formed integrally with the .oylindrienl Wellj it will he. .ehi/ions. that these Weils rney 'be .seperetely torinesi and suit,- etly renneoted detaehebiy .or L.per.rnar.ientzly The .modified form .oi .the -dispenser illustrated lnieilres e end t will be deserlhed.. This torni of dispenser ,isk eonstrueted end is usable in thessme manner, exoept es hereinefter .described is the .dispenser shown in ,Figures l to 3 en@ .shove .deseriloed- The` modified .forrnof dispenser has .e Cylindrical wall II Iwith counterbore I1 in which-is seat7 ed ,the ilat disk-like endwell .It to Whioh the pask ,loeator har It is .rieidly held, `all. es oonstrueted and arranged .in the dispenser shown in Figures l to 3 end ehoye desprined.

ln the niodined oonstruction., however. the end Wall I3 'and .the Connected .par or nn It are quickly and easily removable or detachable as a vunit .from theeyllndrioel wall. ll- For this mirposeJ the Well .H end the looetor or peck-rotation-limiting leerer iin. .It are provided respectively with passages ,2l and 2.2,. which are registrable .and .are preferably generally cylindrical. The fastener substituted in this form of dispenser for the.screwor the like I9 may be of any kno-Wn eonstrlletioh permitting quick and easy-removal of .the Vfasternir for ready sereintion of.V head orwell I3 end'par-t.. .lll from. the cylindrical wall II. In the construction shown, this fastener comprises a cotterV having a head 23 from which extend two spaced resilient legs 24, one of which legs is formed with a latching lug 24a at its inner end. After-pushing the legs of this cotter through registering passages ?I an@v 22, the resilient legs-spring apart and 1assume the condition shown, wherein the projection or Ylug 24e enseres the inherente of her I8 to prevent accidental withdrawal of the cote the .sharply bowed peohof sheets, the

ter but to permit, as hereinafter explained, ready withdrawal of the cotter when desired.

Also in the modified construction, the end wall opposed to end wall I3 is so modified as to provide an end wall 25 of uniform thickness, which wall is a segment of a hollow sphere and so merges with wall II that the respective centers about which the inner and outer spheroidal faces of said wall 25 curve are located along the axial line of said wall I I and that the inner faces of walls II and 25 intersect in a plane normal to the axial line of wall II, and the outer faces of said walls intersect in a plane normal to said axial line. The wall 25 is provided with a diametrical slot 26, with respect to which slot the apertures 2I and 22 are so located that member I8 bears the same relation to slot 26 in the modified dispenser that member I8 does to slot I4 in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3. The ends of slot 26 at the inner face oi wall 25 are coincident with the inner face lof wall II, and the width and use of this slot correspond to those of slot I 4.

By, in the modified construction, passing any rigid instrument, such as a screw driver, through slot 25 against lug 24a, the cotter legs may be relatively contracted to permit ready withdrawal of the cotter and subsequent detachment of wall I3 and member I8 from the remaining portions of the dispenser. When said wall I3 and member I8 are so detached, a pack of loose sheets to be dispensed may be charged or loaded into the dispenser through that end of the dispenser which is normally closed by wall I 3.

In the two constructions of dispenser shown, it will be obvious that, if desired, the two spaced portions of the inner face of wall I2 or of wall 25 may be merged with wall II by short concave junction surface portions in the nature of fillets. This will avoid relatively abrupt lines of intersection of the inner surface of wall II with the inner surface of the slotted end wall of the dispenser.

The primary difference between the sheet-bowing cam surfaces provided by the inner faces of slotted wallsA I2 and 25 at opposite sides of the slot is that in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 the cam surfaces are planar surfaces, whereas in the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cam surfaces are spheroidal surfaces.

In both instances the camrsurfaces slope or converge toward the longitudinal edges of the diametrical slot in the slotted end wall.

It will be obvious that the dimensions of the dispenser must be proportioned to the size of the sheets to be dispensed, although, of course, a given dispenser will be adapted for use with sheets varying somewhat in size. The minimum internal dimension of the wall il measured from the inner face of wall I3 to either of the cam faces should not be less than one dimension of the sheet, which we will call the width. The other dimension or length of the sheet is limited by the length of the slot, as the slotl must be at least about one-half the length of the sheet in order to permit the widthdrawal of the sheet doubled as described. The end of the slot opposite iin I8 must extend to the inner surface of the wall II in order to permit withdrawal of the last sheet or sheets of a pack housed in the dispenser without obstruction by the slotted end wall. It is desirable that the slot extend at both its ends to the inner surface of wall I I, since such a full-length slot will accommodate a doubled sheet the length of which can readily be accommodated around the internal circumference of the cylindrical Wall II. This is not essential, however, and the slot may extend from the surface of wall II opposite iin I8 only part way across the dispenser toward iin I 8. In this latter case, it will be understood that the longest sheet which, when doubled, can be accommodated by the slot will occupy only a fraction of the circumference of wall II `which could be used with a slot the full length of-the internal diameter of the dispenser and a correspondingly longer sheet.

I claim:

l. A paper sheet dispenser which, to confine a pack of disconnected and superimposed paper sheets with the pack bowed about an axial line and to provide for manual withdrawal of sheets from the dispenser in one direction longitudinally of said axial line and sheet by sheet from the innermost to the outermost one of the bent and confined pack of sheets, comprises a housing having two end walls and a longitudinal wall connecting said end walls and forming therewith in the housing a pack confining chamber which has a cylindrical form from a closed end of said housing substantially to an opposite sheet withdrawal end of the housing to coniine a pack of disconnected and superimposed paper sheets in said chamber with the pack of sheets bowed around the axial line of said chamber, said sheet withdrawal end of said housing having therein a diametrical slot extending entirely thereacross to provide a sheet withdrawal passage through said housing end, said chamber in the housing being progressively contracted adjacent the sheet withdrawal end of the housing toward the longitudinal edges of said slot to provide two spaced sheetbowing cam surfaces within the chamber at opposite sides of the slot, said slot being wide enough for insertion of a human iinger therethrough t'o irictionally draw one sheet at a time edgewise against said cam surfaces and out through the slot from a pack of sheets confined in said chamber and bowed about the axial line of the chamber, and rigid pack locating means held to the housing and extending inwardly from the longi tudinal wall of the housing into said chamber toward the axial line of the chamber in registry with said slot for protrusion of said means between the adjacent edges of a bowed pack of sheets confined in said chamber with the pack bowed about the axial line of the chamber.

2. A paper sheet dispenser, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is contracted adjacent the sheet withdrawal end of said housing to provide within the housing two sheet-bowing planar` cam surfaces of equal and opposite inclination which converge from the inner face of the longitudinal wall of the housing to opposite ones of the longitudinal edges of the sheet withdrawal slot.

3. A paper sheet dispenser, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slotted sheet withdrawal end of the housing comprises one of the housing end walls which has the form of a segment of a hollow sphere the center of which is located within the pack-confining chamber and on the axial line of the pack-confining chamber, the inner spheroidal face of which end wall extends to the adjacent end of the cylindrical portion of the chamber.

4. A paper sheet dispenser which, to confine a pack of disconnected and superimposed paper sheets with the pack bowed about an axial line and to provide for manual withdrawal of sheets f 7 =in one direction :longitudinally t of :said vaxial line andfsheet vby sheet fromthe innermost to fthe outermost one of the bent pack ofsheets, comlprises a housing having aspack-conning-chamber dened by a cylindrical wall and byitWo end i .in the chamber to withdraw'the contacted sheet :through said slot, said slotiextending only to the ljuncture of the cylindrical Wall with lsaid slotted :end iwalL'andthe inner face of said slotted-end f-wall being sloped from .said cylindrical Wall toward the respective longitudinal yedges of said slot, and a n-likcipack locator held in the chamber to project'part way-across the chamber from fsaid `cylindrical wall substantially diametrically :of .the lchamber Yand `in registry with Isaid slot, which locator is of less width `than said slot at V4the end of saidlocator which is nearest said slot.

5. A paper sheet dispenser which, to conne -a pack of disconnectedandsuperimposedzpaper 'sheets With-the packbowed'about an aXialzline andto provide for manualwithdrawal of .sheets in 'one direction longitudinally of said Yaxial line -and sheetbysheet lfrom the innermost Vto the ioutermostone of thebent-pa'ck of vsheet-s, corn Aiprises af housinghaving a fpackconiining chamber'deiinedfby a cylindricalfvvallandgby'two end walls to confine Aa `pack of such 4sheets `with :the `pack bowed about the axial line of-the cylindrical vwall Vand Eto restrain movement of the `pack `1onsgtudinallyof said-axialfline, one' of said end walls being lprovided v:with a diametrical sheet-withdrawal slot wide enoughfforinsertion oi aihuman [linger therethrough for :friction-al face contact .withthe innermost one oi-apackiof sheets so coniined in the chamber-to withdraw thebon- ,tacted sheet throughsaid s-lotfoneendcf said slot being coincident with 'the -'juncture of lthe Ycylindrical wall with -said slotted. end wall, and vthe inner .face .of said lslotted 4-end wall Ybeing sloped from said cylindrical `:wall toward -the 'respective Vlongitudinal Vedgesef said slot, and a .fin-likepack locator heldein andhextendinglongitudinally of the'charnber ,to prcjectpart -way across -the chamber from said cylindrical wall Jsi'ibstantially diametrically of the chamber in registry with `said .slot I and toward :said-ene .end ofthe slot.

6. A-papersheet dispenserwhich'tofconfine a pack of disconnected and ...superimposed paper sheets with the packbowedabout anaxial line and tovprovidelfor manual withdrawal osheets in one direction longitudinally of said axis and sheet bysheet from thevinnermost to rtheouter- ,most one of thebentpack of -sheets,comprises a housing having a packconfining Achaniberrden 'finedby'a cylindrical wall-and by twoend walls toiconfme a pack of such sheets with the pack Jbowed about theaxial line of the. cylindrical Wall and to restrain movementofthe pack longitudi- "nally of said axial line, .one .of .said end .walls being provided with -a diametrical sheet-withdrawal slot .extending entirely thereacross and wide enough for -insertion of a human -iinger `therethrough-for rictional face contact with the innermost one of 'a pack-of sheets'so coniined in the chamber to withdraw vthe contacted `sheet through said slot, said slot extending `only yto -the juncture-of the cylindrical wall with said slottedend Wall, andthe inner face of'said slotted -end Wall being-sloped from said cylindrical Wall .towardthe respectivevlongitudinaledges of said slot,that end wallof the chamber -which isopposite -said slotted end wall beingidetachably held to thecylindrical `Wall and-carrying a bar which( extends longitudinally of the chamber in `Contact with the -cylindrical wall vof the chamber and projects part Way across-the .chamber in .registry with said slot, 1the barfbeing imorenarrow than the slotat least-at'fthat end -of the-bar whichiis nearer the slot.

7. A paper Vsheet/dispenser as defined inclaim l, wherein saidhousing includes a removable end wall for the cylindrical chamber #anda detachrable fastening means for .holding .said wall in place, fand wherein said pack locating means :is rigidly held to said removable end .wail and -is detachable therewithfrom the remainder Vof said housing.

sheets and to provide formanual withdrawal of .sheets edgewise thereof cheat va time from the conned pack, comprises a housing y having two end Walls and a 2cylindrical.longitudinal w-allcon nected ,to conne `a pack of disconnected and superimposed paper sheets withthelpack held bowed by said cylindrical wall and located between said end walls, .said cylindrical wall and onerof said end wallsbeing constructed vto block withdrawal of sheetstherethrough from the confined pack, Vthe other ,end wall having therein` and extending entirely thereacross diametri y of the cylindrical wall a sheet withdrawal slot both ends of which are located at .along said cylindrical wall, said slot'being suffi ciently wide for insertion and withdrawaltherethrough of a human finger to withdraw sheets edgewise oneat a time through said siot from the concave face of the.bowed pack, and said housing having means therein coactive with the sheets of a pack coniined in the housing to constrict for passage through said slot the leading end portion of each bowed. sheet .as the sheet is Withdrawn from the pack.

CHARLES A. E'IACCORDY.

'REFERENCES CITED lThe Vfollowing references are of record in f the leof this patent:

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